2014 Fall Neighborhood Tree Grant Planting

2014 Fall Neighborhood Tree Grant Planting

Photo: On an gorgeous fall Saturday morning, September 27, 2014, the Washington neighbors worked together to plant 25 new street trees in their boulevards.

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At RNeighbors, we know that trees make good neighbors. That is why we partner with the City of Rochester, the Park and Rec Department, the Olmsted County Youth Commission, the MN Conservation Corps, and Rochester Public Utilities to offer the RNeighborWoods Tree grant for a winning neighborhood to receive free boulevard trees in the spring and fall.

Once again neighbors rolled up their sleeves this fall and planted trees, celebrating the great green community-building national NeighborWoods month. Thanks to over 60 volunteers, 25 trees have found homes in the Washington neighborhood boulevards. This neighborhood applied for the Neighborhood Tree Grant stating that they have many Ash trees in their neighborhood that inevitably will be taken down by the Emerald Ash Borer pest. Trees planted included Ginkgo, Elm (disease resistant), Crab-apple, Red Bud, Buckeye, and Swamp White Oaks. Appropriate shorter trees were planted under power lines.

Neighborhood Tree Grant winners had to ensure:

  • At least 30 neighbors and one Citizen Forester will be available to help with the planting. RNeighborWoods will oversee the planting.
  • There must be a core planning group of four neighbors who commit to taking an active role in the planting planning.
  • Planting date must take place on Saturday, September 27, (rain or shine).
  • Neighbors will commit to watering the trees for three full years.
  • Boulevard tree recipients must understand that there are times when trees do not survive. There will not be replacement trees for trees that die.

The neighborhood received 25 potted trees paid for by Rochester Public Utilities and the Alliance for Community Trees.

The purpose of the RNeighborWoods Tree grant is to encourage the planting of trees on neighborhood boulevards. RNeighborWoods recognizes the importance and value of trees in Rochester neighborhoods. Trees provide numerous environmental benefits such as lower crime, cleaner air, energy savings, more public revenue, higher property values, and more efficient stormwater management.

The Neighborhood Tree Grant is offered in the spring and the fall. Be on the lookout (about March) for another tree grant opportunity.

When deciding what neighborhood to award the tree grant to, consideration is given to neighborhoods where Citizen Foresters are involved.


Thanks to our partners and sponsors who made this event a reality. You can check out exactly what local and national businesses and organizations did what as well as check out the t-shirt graphic on our website. Special thanks to the national organization the Alliance for Community Trees who provided us with a mini-grant to help pay for the tie-dyed t-shirts that were given out to some of the neighborhood volunteers.

To see photos of the Washington neighborhood planting see our Facebook page.

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